NMFS bans shortraker rockfish retention in the central Gulf of Alaska at noon Oct. 14

Shortraker rockfish in the central Gulf of Alaska have to be treated like a prohibited species for most of the fleet. National Marine Fisheries Service information bulletin IB 26-45, issued Oct. 13, 2026, prohibits retention in the Central Regulatory Area effective noon Alaska local time on Oct. 14. Alaska Region Administrator Jonathan M. Kurland issued the action because the 2026 total allowable catch for vessels other than Central GOA Rockfish Program catcher/processors will soon be reached or already has been. The authority cited is 50 CFR 679.20(d)(2).

The ban does not apply to catcher/processors checked in to the Central GOA Rockfish Program that are fishing with a rockfish cooperative quota permit. For everyone else, shortraker in this area must be handled as a prohibited species under § 679.21(a)(2) for the rest of the year, with two gear exceptions written into the bulletin: catcher vessels using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear as described in § 679.20(j), and catcher vessels using trawl gear in the electronic monitoring program as described in § 679.21(a)(2). While the prohibition is in effect, the requirements at § 679.20(j)(4) apply.

The bulletin is the notice. NMFS says the binding text is the Federal Register action. This central-Gulf shortraker retention ban is separate from the western Gulf Pacific ocean perch directed-fishing closure already on the books.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: NOAA Fisheries — IB 26-45 (Oct. 13, 2026; effective noon Alaska time Oct. 14, 2026).